Murder charges filed against teen in slaying of boy

Murder charges have been filed against a 16-year-old boy in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy earlier this month on the West Side, police said.

The name of the boy charged has not been released by police News Affairs, but a statement released from their office said the boy has been charged with murder in the July 8 shooting in the 600 block of North Lawndale Avenue.

Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala said he believed the boy, charged as an adult, will be in court Thursday.

The victim, Ed Cooper of the 1200 block of South Kostner Avenue, was shot once in the chest at 5:08 p.m. on July 8 and pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital at 5:54 p.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

“The offender shot the victim once in the chest,’’ according to the statement from News Affairs.

An autopsy performed July 9 revealed the 15-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the chest and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner's office.

Police were dispatched to the block following a report of a person shot and found the boy, said police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien at the time.

Ed was playing a ballgame at the playground of Laura Ward Elementary School, formerly Ryerson Elementary, 646 N. Lawndale Ave., when he was shot, according to a relative who did not want to give her name. Ryerson was one of 49 elementary schools closed this June by the district.